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Latest News
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
1 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Fast rugby meets fast 5G as rain sponsors Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

World Rugby welcomes rain as an Official Sponsor of Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 in Cape Town.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Fri 1 July, 2022
1 min read
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Three
1 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Island Tribe to keep fans protected as the sun shines on Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Island Tribe has been appointed as an Official Supplier of Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 in Cape Town, as momentum continues towards the biggest showcase of the sevens game on the planet.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Thu 23 June, 2022
1 min read
World Rugby logo - one to use for generic releases
1 min read

RWC Sevens 2022

Match officials selected for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 in South Africa

World Rugby has announced the selection of match officials for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022, which takes place in Cape Town, South Africa, from 9-11 September.

RWC Sevens 2022

Fri 10 June, 2022
1 min read
HSBC France Sevens 2022 Women's
3 min read

RWC Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: 100 days to go

As the countdown to RWC Sevens 2022 heads into the final 100 days, we give you the lowdown on the showpiece tournament to get you excited for kick-off in Cape Town.

RWC Sevens 2022

Wed 1 June, 2022
3 min read
Andy Vilk, head coach of Italy men's sevens
4 min read

RWC Sevens 2022 qualifying

Italy men’s sevens team seeks return to the big stage

The European men's qualification tournament for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 is on the horizon with the prize of four tickets to Cape Town, South Africa at stake in July.

RWC Sevens 2022 qualifying

Thu 19 May, 2022
4 min read
2018 Highlights
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
08:29 mins

Highlights: New Zealand win big in San Francisco

New Zealand retained their Rugby World Cup Sevens title in San Francisco
Mon 23 July, 2018
08:29 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
07:03 mins

Highlights: New Zealand women's win Rugby World Cup Sevens

Check out all the top action as New Zealand win The Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco
Sun 22 July, 2018
07:03 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
06:30 mins

HIGHLIGHTS: Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two

Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two of action at Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 #RWC7s
Sun 22 July, 2018
06:30 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day One
06:51 mins

Highlights: Men's quarter-finals decided

Men's quarter-finals of Rugby World Cup Sevens decided after incredible first day at AT&T Park
Sat 21 July, 2018
06:51 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
06:26 mins

Highlights: Women's semi-finals confirmed at Rugby World Cup Sevens

Championship semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day one of action
Sat 21 July, 2018
06:26 mins
World Rankings
Monday 27 December, 2022
3 min read

World Rugby Men’s Rankings powered by Capgemini: The year in review

We take a look back at the headline news from the rankings in 2021.
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South Africa started and finished the year on top of the World Rugby Men’s Rankings powered by Capgemini, but it wasn’t an unbroken reign as the Springboks fought for supremacy with the All Blacks on an almost weekly basis in the latter part of 2021.

From September through to the end of a compelling Autumn Nations Series, the lead changed hands four times with the Springboks’ finishing the season with 3.59 rating points fewer than when they kicked off the season with a 40-9 win over Georgia in July.

A 2-1 series win over the British and Irish Lions was undoubtedly the highlight of the reigning world champions’ year but in matches that counted towards the rankings, a record of six wins and four defeats saw their points total reduced from 94.20 points to 90.61 over the course of the 12-month period.

France v New Zealand at a packed Stade de France

Rugby heaven pic.twitter.com/gpfKvEYXSz

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) November 20, 2021

New Zealand started the year in third place and finished it in second – at the expense of an England side that endured a very disappointing Six Nations – but, again, their final points total was lower at the season’s end (88.75 points) than at the start (88.95 points).

The All Blacks were at their attacking best in 2021 and became the first side to score more than 100 tries in a calendar year, but defeats to Ireland and then France in their final two fixtures took the shine off the season.

Mixed fortunes in Europe

Despite achieving their first win over the All Blacks since 2009 and fractionally improving their overall rating, France actually fell in the rankings from fourth to fifth over the course of the year.

Les Bleus were beaten to the Six Nations title by Wales and then lost their summer series against Australia. However, a clean sweep of wins in the Autumn Nations Series ensures the Rugby World Cup 2023 hosts will go into 2022 on a high.

Momentum is definitely behind Ireland after a year in which narrow defeats to Wales and France were followed by eight straight wins, the 29-20 success over the All Blacks in November being the obvious highlight.

Ireland traded places with France in fourth as a result, with Wales the only other team in the top 10 to improve their position in 2021.

The Six Nations winners increased their rating score by 2,20 points to climb above Rugby Championship wooden spoonists Argentina, but Australia and Scotland still remain above them in sixth and seventh, respectively.

Outside of the top 10 nations, Romania were one of the teams to make the biggest improvement from a rankings perspective.

The Oaks’ renaissance under former England and Scotland head coach Andy Robinson saw them climb four places from 19th to 15th with a gain of 2,58 points. Tonga went the other way with a loss of 3.72 points causing them to fall from 13th to 16th.

Chile enjoy a red-hot year

Rugby World Cup 2023 contenders Chile are knocking on the door of the top 20 after making massive strides forward in 2021.

Having beaten Canada for the first time in eight attempts to set up an Americas 2 showdown with USA, Los Condores signed off with an impressive 2-0 series win over Russia in Sochi, moving up from 29th place in the rankings to a record-equalling 23rd as a result.

Rugby Europe Trophy high fliers Poland emulated Chile’s impressive six-place gain in moving up from 34th in the world to 28th. New head coach Christian Hitt has led the Poles to three straight wins in his first three games in charge and they will take a six-point lead over Germany into the new year.

A 24-19 win over Ivory Coast in July saw Madagascar jump five places from 51st to 46th but the biggest and only double-digit gain of 2021 belongs to African rivals Senegal.

Rugby Africa Cup wins over Kenya and Zambia have put the Senegalese through to the next phase of Rugby World Cup 2023 qualification and also sent them shooting up the rankings from 54th to 44th.

Read more: Two Rugby World Cups headline action-packed year in 2022 >>

 

Trending News Show all
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
1 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Fast rugby meets fast 5G as rain sponsors Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

World Rugby welcomes rain as an Official Sponsor of Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 in Cape Town.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Fri 1 July, 2022
1 min read
HSBC London Sevens 2022
3 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

How the men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series title race will be decided in Los Angeles

We run through the permutations as four teams prepare for the HSBC LA Sevens with a shot at becoming 2022 Series champions.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Fri 1 July, 2022
3 min read
RWC 1995: trophy presentation
2 min read

RWC Sevens 2022

Francois Pienaar can’t wait for Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town

The former Springbok captain, who lifted the Webb Ellis Cup with South Africa at RWC 1995, is looking forward to welcoming the world's best sevens players to Cape Town in September.

RWC Sevens 2022

Fri 24 June, 2022
2 min read
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
2 min read

Olympic Games

Olympic Day: Countdown to Paris 2024 already under way

On the day that the world gets moving, World Rugby looks at the qualification pathway for the men’s and women’s sevens tournaments at the next Olympic Games.

Olympic Games

Thu 23 June, 2022
2 min read
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Three
1 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Island Tribe to keep fans protected as the sun shines on Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Island Tribe has been appointed as an Official Supplier of Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 in Cape Town, as momentum continues towards the biggest showcase of the sevens game on the planet.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Thu 23 June, 2022
1 min read
HSBC Rugby Sevens Hong Kong - Day 3
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Seven magnificent moments from the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens

Whet your appetite as the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series prepares to return to Hong Kong for the first time in more than three years this November.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Wed 22 June, 2022
4 min read
2022 - Brazil win Sudamérica Rugby 7s
2 min read

REGIONAL FOCUS: SOUTH AMERICA

As Yaras continue to dominate in South America

In winning their 20th consecutive Sudamérica Rugby Sevens tournament, Brazil continues to top the regional tables.

REGIONAL FOCUS: SOUTH AMERICA

Thu 16 June, 2022
2 min read
Australia v Fiji 2021 PacificAus Sports Oceania Sevens
2 min read

Oceania Rugby

Oceania Rugby seeks to provide “best preparation possible” for showpiece tournaments through regional competitions

Two regional tournaments will take place in Auckland in June and July to help teams prepare for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022, the Commonwealth Games 2022 and Rugby World Cup 2021.

Oceania Rugby

Thu 9 June, 2022
2 min read
Rob Vickerman Karl Tenana
3 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Rob Vickerman: Olympic qualification means “every second counts” in new World Series format

The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series commentator is already relishing what 2023 has to offer after a new blockbuster schedule was revealed on Tuesday, 31 May.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Thu 2 June, 2022
3 min read
HSBC France Sevens 2022 Women's
3 min read

RWC Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: 100 days to go

As the countdown to RWC Sevens 2022 heads into the final 100 days, we give you the lowdown on the showpiece tournament to get you excited for kick-off in Cape Town.

RWC Sevens 2022

Wed 1 June, 2022
3 min read
Global Partners
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